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ATHLETIC  HANDBOOKS  I — .  _. 

No.  76R  I. 


TEN  N  IS 
FOR  GIRLS 


BY 

FLORENCE  A.IBALLIN 

NEW  '" 


PUBLISHED  BY 

AMERICAN  SPORTS  PUBLISHING 

COMPANY 
45  ROSE  STREET,  NEW  YORK 


Copyright,  1919,  by  American  Sports  Publishing  Company. 


INTRODUCTION. 

There  are  a  number  of  books  on  tennis, 
but  none  has  heretofore  been  written  for 
the  young  girl  just  starting  in  to  play.  It 
may  be  argued  that  the  game  is  the  same 
for  both  boy  and  girl,  therefore  the  same 
book  will  do  for  both.  This  is  true  to  a 
certain  extent.  But  just  as  there  is  a  dif- 
ference in  the  finished  game,  so  there  is 
a  difference  in  the  early  training;  and  I 
believe  that,  properly  started,  a  girl's  game 
may  be  developed  to  the  point  where  it  is 
much  more  like  the  boy's  game  than  it  is 
at  present.  Tennis  is  a  game  requiring  a 
quick  eye  and  good  judgment.  Now  a 
boy's  eye  is  naturally  trained  to  judge  a 
ball  in  flight ;  he  plays  at  some  kind  of  ball 
game1  from  the  day  he  is  strong  enough 
to  toss  one.  His  body,  too,  responds 
more  readily  to  what  his  eye  tells  him  he 
must  do.  Therefore,  a  girl  has  to  spend 
more  time  and  attention  in  developing  her 
"eye,"  and  in  learning  to  get  quick  and 
accurate  response  from  her  muscles. 
There  is  no  good  reason  why  a  girl  should 
not  be  as  quick  as  her  brother ;  it  is  merely 
a  matter  of  training. 


S pal  ding's  Athletic  Library , 


HOW  THE  GAME  IS  PLAYED. 

Tennis  is  a  game  to  be  played  by  two 
or  four  persons.  Three  may  play,  by  com- 
bining the  two  games,  and  having  one  play 
"singles"  against  the  other  two  playing 
"doubles."  But  the  game  properly  has 
two  forms:  "singles,"  wherein  two  per- 
sons play,  one  on  each  side  of  the  net; 
and  "doubles,"  with  two  people  on  each 
side  of  the  net.  This  net,  which  is  3  feet 
high  in  the  center  and  3  feet  6  inches  at 
the  sides,  is  stretched  taut  from  two  posts, 
one  at  each  side  of  the  court,  across  the 
middle  of  the  court.  The  court  has  a 
perfectly  smooth,  level  surface,  of  clay, 
dirt,  turf,  or  cement,  as  the  case  may  be. 
(Indoors  the  game  is  played  on  board 
floors. )  It  measures  78  feet  in  length  and 
27  feet  in  width,  for  singles;  36  feet  in 
width  for  doubles.  The  court  is  laid  out 
with  white  lines  to  mark  the  boundaries. 
These  lines  are  drawn  with  slacked  lime 
or  whitewash,  or  else  marked  out  by  tapes 
which  come  for  the  purpose.  Twenty-one 

46*625 


4     :     Sppldintfs  Athletic  Library 

feet  from  the  net,  on  both  sides,  a  line  is 
drawn,  parallel  to  the  net,  to  the  sidelines 
of  the  singles  court.  This  space  is  in  turn 
evenly  divided  by  a  line  through  the  cen- 
ter, running  parallel  to  the  sidelines,  pass- 
ing under  the  center  of  the  net.  The  four 
small  spaces  thus  made  are  called  the 
"service  courts."  The  narrow  spaces  be- 
tween the  sidelines  of  the  singles  and  dou- 
bles court  are  called  the  "alleys." 

The  game  itself  consists  in  one  person 
(the  server)  putting  the  ball  in  play  by 
hitting  (serving)  it  into  the  proper  ser- 
vice court,  and  both  players  then  knocking 
it  back  and  forth  across  the  net  until  it  is 
sent  either  into  the  net  or  outside  the 
boundary  lines,  or  missed  altogether. 

The  players  take  turns  serving,  each 
serving  an  entire  game  at  a  time.  The 
right  to  serve  first  is  won  by  the  player 
who  calls  the  toss  of  the  racket  correctly. 
The  racket  is  spun  about,  one  player  call- 
ing "rough"  or  "smooth" ;  that  is,  whether 
the  lacing  of  colored  gut  is  smooth  side  up 
or  not.  The  winner,  if  she  chooses  to 
serve  first  (instead  she  may  take  the 


Sp  aiding*  s  Athletic  Library          6 

choice  of  courts,  letting  her  opponent  serve 
first),  then  stands  behind  her  baseline,  to 
the  right  of  the  center,  and,  tossing  up  the 
ball,  knocks  it  into  her  opponent's  right- 
hand  service  court.  She  has  a  second  ball 
to  try,  provided  the  first  is  a  "fault,"  that 
is,  falls  into  the  net  or  outside  the  cor- 
rect service  court.  Many  players  hold  a 
third  ball  in  their  hand,  or  have  it  on  the 
ground  near  them,  for  if  the  ball  strikes 
the  top  of  the  net  and  falls  into  the  right 
court,  it  is  called  a  "let"  ball  and  does  not 
count  one  way  or  the  other.  This  is  true 
only  in  serving,  at  all  other  times  a  "let" 
ball  is  in  play.  The  opponent,  standing 
back  of  her  service  line,  tries  to  return  the 
ball  after  its  first  bounce  in  the  service 
court. 

The  ball  is  now  in  play,  being  knocked 
back  and  forth,  until  it  is  sent  out  of  court, 
or  into  the  net,  or  bounces  twice  before 
being  struck. 

Once  the  ball  is  in  play,  it  may  be  -Vol- 
leyed," that  is,  hit  before  it  bounces,  but 
the  service  ball  must  first  strike  the 
ground  inside  the  service  court.  This  is 


,6          Spalding's  Athletic  Library 
P 

repeated,  the  server  sending  the  ball  alter- 
nately into  the  right  and  the  left-hand 
courts,  from  behind  the  right  and  the  left 
sides  of  her  baseline,  until  the  game  is 
won.  The  point  is  scored  by  the  player 
who  has  last  hit  the  ball  into  court.  If 
the  server  fails  to  send  either  ball  into  the 
proper  court,  she  makes  a  "double  fault," 
and  loses  the  point. 

The  score  is  called  as  follows :  the  first 
point  counts  15,  the  player's  score  which 
is  zero  (o)  being  called  "love";  the  next 
score,  if  the  point  is  won  by  the  same 
player,  is  called  "3O-love,"  the  next  "40- 
love,"  then  "game."  If  the  opponent,  in 
the  meantime,  scores,  her  point  is  called  as 
30-15,  40-30,  the  server's  score  always 
being  called  first.  If  the  points  are  even, 
the  call  is  "is-all"  or  "3O-all,"  as  the  case 
may  be,  instead  of  "15-15,"  etc.  If  the 
points  are  evened  at  4O-all,  the  score  is 
called  "deuce."  Then  one  player  has  to 
win  two  points  in  succession  from  the 
deuce  point,  the  score  going  "deuce,"  "ad- 
vantage server"  (or  "striker"),  "deuce," 
"advantage,"  until  the  player  who  has  the 


Spalding's  Athletic  Library          7 

advantage  point  wins  the  next  one,  and 
the  game. 

It  takes  six  games  to  make  a  set,  unless 
the  games  go  to  "5-all."  This  is  equiva- 
lent to  "deuce"  in  the  point  score,  and  re- 
quires two  consecutive  games  to  make 
"set" — as  7/5,  8/6,  9/7.  A  match  for 
girls  is  always  the  best  two  out  of  three 
sets. 

The  ball  on  service  is  always  tossed  into 
the  air  and  struck  before  it  bounds;  a 
ground  stroke  is  used  to  return  the  ball 
after  it  has  bounced;  a  "volley,"  one 
wherein  the  ball  has  not  struck  the 
ground;  a  "lob"  is  a  ball  knocked  high 
into  the  air  across  the  net;  a  "smash"  is 
a  severe  return  of  a  lobbed  ball.  These 
strokes,  their  uses,  and  the  way  to  play 
them,  will  be  taken  up  in  subsequent 
chapters. 


Athletic  Library 


'  PROFESSIONAL  TEACHING. 

It  h^s  been  seen  that  die  main  object 
of  the  game  of  tennis  is  to  keep  the  ball 
in  play  and  put  it  where  the  other  person 
cannot  reach  it  This  entails  more  or  less 
skill  and  accuracy  in  making  shots.  The 
quickest  way  to  gain  this  skill  is,  as  in  all 
things,  to  start  in  right  Learn  the  cor- 
rect way  add  form,  whereby  the  best  re- 
sults are  obtained  with  the  least  effort  I  f 
a  good  professional  is  within  reach,  the 
simplest  and  quickest  method  is  to  take 
a  number  of  lessons  from  him  to  get  the 
fundamental  principles  of  the  strokes; 
then  start  playing,  keeping  these  instruc- 
tions actively  in  mind  until  they  become 
more  or  less  instinctive.  A  girl  usually, 
has  to  make  more  of  a  conscious  effort 
to  acquire  some  of  the  fundamentals  than 
does  her  brother,  for  she  is  not  accustomed 
to  games  involving  a  ball  in  flight,  nor  to 
the  quick  muscular  response  required. 
She  has  to  train  both  eye  and  mind  to  their 
proper  uses. 

Many  older  players,  who  have  taken  up 


3C.  feet 


DOUBLES    COURT 


SERVICE  w         LINE 


PLATE  I. 

Backhand  grip,  showing  the  thumb  diagonally  across  the  handle, 
helping  support  the  force  of  the  stroke;  the  wrist  well  "behind" 
the  racket. 


PLATE  II. 

Correct  backhand  grip — head  of  racket  slightly  up,  but  the  racket 
is  in  the  same  plane  as  the  arm.     (See  Plate  III.) 


PLATE  III. 

Incorrect  backhand  position — the  hand  and  end  of  the  racket  are 
leading  the  stroke,  the  line  of  the  arm  and  racket  being  that  of  a 
wide  V,  instead  of  a  straight  line. 


PLATE  IV. 

Forehand  grip — palm  of  hand  behind  racket,  head  of  racket  up, 
showing  the  wrist  in  an  easy  position,  no  strain  as  shown  in 
Plate  V. 


PLATE  V. 

Incorrect    forehand   grip — the   head   of   the   racket   is   dropped, 
straining  the  wrist  at  "A." 


PLATE  VI. 
Forehand  grip  from  the  back. 


Spalding's  Athletic  Library          9 

the  game  "any  old  way"  and  believe  in 
"just  doing  the  best  they  can/'  claim  that 
professional  teaching  is  useless,  as  it 
makes  a  player  "all  form  and  no  play." 
Of  course,  a  professional  cannot  make  a 
star  player  put  of  every  pupil,  but  he  can 
make  their  best  much  better  than  it  would 
otherwise  have  been,  much  less  tiring  to 
the  player,  and  more  pleasurable  to  the 
onlooker,  by  teaching  them  the  correct 
form,  the  right  way  to  handle  themselves 
and  their  racket. 

Few  start  playing  golf  without  taking 
lessons  on  how  to  drive,  putt,  etc.,  or  else 
reading  the  various  articles  that  have 
been  written  on  how  to  play.  There  are 
just  as  many  different  strokes  in  tennis 
and  just  as  definite  ways  to  play  them  in 
order  to  attain  the  best  and  most  consist- 
ent results.  If  the  player  knows  the 
science  of  the  strokes,  when  she  is  off  her 
game  a  little  thought  will  soon  find  her 
error;  whereas  if  she  is  playing  "hit  or 
miss,"  she  will  merely  be  disgusted  at  be- 
ing "off  her  game/'  and  have  to  trust  to 
her  lucky  Providence  to  get  her"on"again. 


10         Sp  aiding' s  Athletic  Library 

A  player  who  is  "all  form"  Has  merely 
not  carried  her  game  far  enough,  either 
has  not  played  long  enough  or  else  has  not 
in  herself  the  makings  of  a  first-class 
player.  But  at  least  she  looks  well  on  the 
court,  plays  a  fairly  consistent  game  and 
really  fails  only  when  it  comes  to  crack 
tournament  play.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  she 
is  a  player  whom  first-class  players  are  al- 
ways willing  to  play  against,  for  she  is 
steady  and  has  reasonable  pace  to  her 
balls,  making  her  a  good  opponent  in  prac- 
tise. Then,  too,  many  people  make  this 
criticism  of  someone  who  is  taking  lessons, 
when  the  pupil  is  really  only  just  starting 
in,  and  has  to  concentrate  so  much  on  how 
she  is  hitting  the  ball  that  she  has  little 
thought  left  for  strategy.  Once,  however, 
a  player  learns  how  to  stroke  the  ball  cor- 
rectly and  how  to  handle  herself  on  the 
court,  the  rest  comes  rapidly.  But  the 
fundamentals  have  to  be  learned  first,  and 
learned  thoroughly,  so  that  they  become 
second  nature  to  the  player,  before  there 
can  be  much  thought  of  studying  the  tac- 
tics of  play* 


S pal  ding's  Athletic  Library         n 

A  professional,  besides  being  able  to 
give  his  pupil  the  required  ball  again  and 
again  for  the  stroke  under  study,  can  also 
watch  and  tell  her  what  she  is  doing  incor- 
rectly. To  pick  up  the  game  alone  is,  as 
in  all  things,  more  difficult  than  to  have 
someone  pointing  the  way.  However, 
learning  by  oneself  requires  greater  con- 
centration and  thought  on  what  one  is  do- 
ing, and  insofar  is  all  the  better  training. 

The  best  way  to  begin  without  pro- 
fessional aid  is  to  find  a  smooth  board 
wall  against  which  the  ball  may  be  hit, 
with  a  level  cleared  space  in  front  of  it. 
It  is  well  to  draw  a  chalk  line  the  height 
of  the  net,  3  feet  from  the  ground,  so  that 
the  player  may  become  accustomed  to  hit- 
ting the  ball  high  enough. 

By  practising  against  this  board  for  a 
while  before  playing  any  games,  the  be- 
ginner can  put  all  her  attention  on  how  she 
is  hitting  the  ball.  She  has  no  opponent, 
no  score,  to  worry  her,  and  can  become 
thoroughly  at  home  with  the  fundamental 
principles  of  the  strokes.  This  is  the 
practise  that  a  girl  needs  more  than  a  boy, 


12         Spalding's  Athletic  Library 

for  it  will  give  her  the  necessary  training 
for  eye  and  body.  She  will  learn  to  keep 
her  eye  on  the  ball,  to  time  her  strokes  cor- 
rectly, and  to  use  her  body  easily  and 
quickly  in  response  to  the  demands  of 
her  eye.  Above  all,  she  will  be  acquiring 
the  habit  of  concentration,  a  habit  most 
important  in  tennis,  and  something  that 
no  one  can  teach. 

The  easiest  and  quickest  way  to  learn 
to  serve  is  to  take  a  half  dozen  or  so  of 
balls  out  on  the  court  and  practise  hitting 
them  in  the  right  way  into  the  opposite 
service  court,  just  as  if  a  game  were  in 
progress.  In  a  very  short  time,  the  be- 
ginner will  find  that  she  is  ready  to  go  out 
and  hold  her  own  against  those  of  her 
friends  who  have  been  "batting  around" 
for  some  time  but  without  any  real 
thought  as  to  what  they  were  doing. 

It  is  best  to  learn  the  ground  strokes 
first,  the  strokes  used  against  a  ball  that 
has  bounced  once.  They  are  more  easily 
practised  alone,  and  in  learning  to  play 
them  correctly,  the  fundamental  principles 
which  are  true  for  all  strokes  will  be 


Spalding's  Athletic  Library         13 

mastered.  The  player  will  learn  to  con- 
centrate on  what  she  is  doing,  to  keep  her 
eye  on  the  ball,  to  time  it  in  its  flight,  and 
to  follow  through,  putting  the  weight  of 
her  body  into  the  stroke.  The  habit  of 
keeping  the  eye  on  the  ball,  of  watching 
it  throughout  its  flight,  is  a  very  neces- 
sary one  to  acquire,  and  now  is  the  time 
while  there  is  no  opponent  to  tempt  the 
eye  away.  Many  players  are  so  busy 
watching  their  adversary,  to  know  just 
where  she  is  in  the  opposite  court,  that 
they  do  not  know  exactly  where  the  ball 
is,  and  have  to  take  a  chance  at  hitting  it 
squarely.  After  all,  it  is  much  more  im- 
portant to  be  sure  of  your  ball,  for  if  you 
do  not  send  the  ball  true,  of  what  use  to 
know  just  where  your  opponent  is.  This 
is  the  cause  of  the  many  "scratch"  shots 
made  on  the  courts,  balls  hit  with  any 
part  of  the  racket,  strings  or  even  frame, 
instead  of  with  the  center  of  the  stringing. 
A  player  must  learn  to  keep  her  eye  on  the 
ball  all  the  time,  in  order  that  her  shots 
may  be  clean  and  true,  and  of  the  maxi- 
mum speed,  through  having  her  racket 


14         Spalding's  Athletic  Library 

squarely  behind  the  ball.  This  habit  of 
keeping  the  eye  on  the  ball  develops  and 
includes  the  habit  of  concentration,  an- 
other very  essential  habit  to  form  if  one 
is  to  play  first-class  tennis.  No  one  can 
do  her  game  justice  if  she  allows  her  mind 
to  wander  the  least  bit  from  the  matter 
at  hand.  If  she  begins  to  think  of  the 
audience,  or  the  umpire,  or  any  of  the 
thousand  and  one  things  that  are  liable 
to  distract  a  player,  her  mind  is  not 
wholly  on  her  stroke,  her  eye  will  waver, 
and  a  scratch  shot  is  the  almost  inevitable 
result.  Proper  footwork  too,  which  plays 
such  an  important  part  in  getting  the 
proper  swing  of  arm  and  body,  comes  only 
with  constant  thought.  In  time  this  keep- 
ing the  eye  on  the  ball,  and  using  proper 
footwork  becomes  so  nearly  second  nature 
that  the  player  may  use  her  powers  of  con- 
centration on  the  problems  of  strategy 
which  advanced  play  require.  But  at  all 
times  she  must  keep  her  mind  as  it  were 
within  the  boundaries  of  the  court  and 
not  allow  it  to  wander. 


Spalding's  Athletic  Library         15 


GRIP  OF  THE  RACKET. 

First,  tfie  grip  of  the  racket  must  be 
considered.  If  the  player  will  realize 
that,  as  far  as  possible,  she  must  have 
her  racket,  with  face  turned  slightly  up, 
parallel  to  the  net  when  hitting  the 
ball,  she  will  probably  hold  the  racket  in 
the  grip  most  suitable  for  herself.  Lay 
the  racket  slanting  across  the  palm,  so  that 
the  butt  rests  at  the  base  of  the  palm,  a 
little  to  the  left,  and  the  handle  crosses  the 
first  knuckle  of  the  first  finger.  Close  the 
fingers  about  the  handle,  and  a  comfort- 
able, firm  grip  is  obtained.  A  very  slight 
shift  is  made  by  most  players  in  taking  a 
backhand  shot,  the  thumb  being  slipped  di- 
agonally across  the  handle,  giving  a  better 
control  over  the  racket. 

The  racket,  as  mentioned  above,  should 
always  be  parallel  to  the  net  at  the  time 
that  it  meets  the  ball,  direction  being  given 
to  the  ball  by  following  through  with  the 
racket  in  the  desired  line  of  flight  of  the 
ball.  The  face  of  the  racket  should  be 


16         $p  aiding' s  Athletic  Library 

slightly  "open" ;  that  is,  turned  upward  a 
little,  not  tipped  towards  the  ground,  which 
position  is  called  "closed/*  and  the  racket 
itself  should  be  almost  parallel  to  the 
ground.  If  is  well  'for  the  beginner  to 
exaggerate  this  last  and  keep  the  head  of 
her  racket  well  up,  to  overcome  a  natural 
tendency  to  let  it  drop  too  low.  If  the  po- 
sition of  the  racket  varies  all  the  time,  the 
player  will  have  to  consider  whether  the 
head  is  higher  or  lower  than  usual  and 
make  due  allowance  in  her  strokes.  But 
if  she  always  keeps  it  about  the  same,  she 
will  know  from  habit  just  where  it  is.  The 
more  instinctive  a  player  can  become  as 
to  the  elemental  parts  of  the  game,  the 
more  attention  she  can  pay  to  the  finer 
points.  Therefore,  from  the  very  start  try 
to  hold  the  racket  correctly,  both  as  to  grip 
and  general  position,  so  that  in  time  you 
need  not  think  about  your  grip  at  all. 


Miss  Eleanor  Goss  at  the  start  of  her  service. 


Mrs.  Raymond  serving.     Note  the  height  to  which  the  ball  is 
thrown,  also  the  general  balance  of  the  body. 

E.  Levick,  N.  Y.,  Photo. 


Miss  Eleanor  Goss  at  the  start  of  her  service. 


Mrs.  Raymond  serving.     Note  the  height  to  which  the  ball  is 
thrown,  also  the  general  balance  of  the  body. 

E.  Levick,  N.  Y.,  Photo. 


Mrs.    Edward    Raymond    at    finish    of    service.      Note    how    the 
weight  has  been  shifted  to  the  left  foot. 

E.  Levick,  N.  Y.,  Photo. 


MLLE.  SUZANNE  LENGLEN, 
Famous  Young  French  Player. 


Mrs.    Edward    Raymond    at    finish    of    service.      Note    how    the 
weight  has  been   shifted  to  the  left  foot. 

E.  Levick,  N.  Y.,  Photo. 


MLLE.  SUZANNE  LENGLEN, 
Famous  Young  French  Player. 


Sp alding's  Athletic  Library         17 


STROKES— THE  DRIVE. 

Having  a  firm,  but  not  tight,  hold  of 
the  racket,  try  to  make  a  full  swing  with 
it  through  the  air.  Stand  sideways  to  the 
practise  board,  or  the  net,  put  the  arm  out 
straight,  parallel  to  the  net,  then  swing 
it  up  and  back  as  far  as  possible,  and  then 
down  and  forward,  describing  a  circle 
through  the  air.  Finish  the  swing  as  far 
in  front  of  the  body  as  possible,  letting  the 
head  of  the  racket  be  the  leading  point.  It 
is  this  last  part  of  the  swing  that  controls 
the  flight  of  the  ball,  both  as  to  direction 
and  to  length,  and  so  is  most  important. 
Always  follow  through.  The  prelimi- 
nary swing  gives  the  greatest  amount  of 
speed  with  the  least  effort,  because  of  the 
momentum  which  is  gained.  A  long  fol- 
low through  gives  a  deep  ball  (one  in  the 
back  of  the  opponent's  court),  and  controls 
the  direction  more  surely  than  does  a  short 
snap  shot.  The  beginner  should  therefore 
spend  plenty  of  time  and  attention  getting 
a  full,  free  swing. 


18          Sp  aiding  s  Athletic  Library 

Swing  the  arm  and  racket  around  and 
forward  several  times  without  any  ball. 
Then,  standing  sideways  to  the  net  or 
board,  with  the  left  foot  forward,  drop  a 
ball  opposite  the  body  and  swing  the  racket 
so  as  to  meet  it  at  the  top  of  its  bound,  fol- 
lowing forward  with  the  racket  in  the  di- 
rection that  the  ball  is  to  take.  The  whole 
body  should  swing  forward  from  the  hips, 
the  weight  being  shifted  from  the  right 
foot  to  the  left  as  the  arm  goes  forward. 

Few  girls,  until  recently,  used  this  full 
swing,  although  it  is  very  important  that 
they  should  use  it,  as  it  is  a  great  saver  of 
energy,  speed  being  given  to  the  ball,  not 
by  hitting  it  hard,  but  by  the  impetus 
gained  through  the  preliminary  swing  to- 
gether with  the  weight  of  the  body  which 
is  behind  the  stroke. 

A  straight  forehand  drive,  used  princi- 
pally against  a  low  bouncing  ball,  starts 
with  the  full  swing  and  finishes  out  and 
up,  the  face  of  the  racket  open  and  drawn 
slightly  across  the  ball  at  the  finish  of  the 
stroke.  A  topped  drive  finishes  with  the 
wrist  and  racket  turning  over,  so  that  the 


Sp  aiding' s  Athletic  Library         19 

face  of  the  racket  is  towards  the  ground. 
This  turnover  starts  the  ball  spinning 
around  on  its  own  axis,  giving  it  "drop" ; 
that  is,  causing  it  to  drop  rather  sharply 
to  the  ground  when  it  has  reached  the 
limit  of  its  outward  flight.  This  marked 
downcurve  makes  it  much  easier  to  keep 
the  ball  within  the  limits  of  the  court  and 
so  is  very  useful. 

The  backhand  drive,  which  should  not 
be  neglected,  but  rather  should  receive 
more  attention  at  the  beginning  because 
it  is  a  little  more  difficult  to  make,  is  based 
on  the  same  general  principles.  Grip  the 
racket,  having  the  thumb  diagonally 
across  the  handle,  keeping  the  wrist  well 
in  towards  the  body — there  is  a  tendency 
on  the  backhand  to  let  the  wrist  break, 
point  out  towards  the  net,  and  so  lead  the 
swing,  which  must  be  guarded  against. 
Stand  sideways  to  the  net,  the  right  foot 
forward,  and  swing  the  arm,  wrist  in  and 
elbow  nearly  straight,  across  the  body, 
making  a  circle  as  before,  with  the  head 
of  the  racket  as  the  leading  point.  Then 
follow  through  forward,  shifting  the 


20         Sp  aiding' s  Athletic  Library 

weight  of  the  body  onto  the  right  foot  and 
swinging  forward  from  the  hips.  As  in 
the  -forehand,  there  are  two  ways  of  fin- 
ishing the  swing,  producing  two  different 
drives :  one,  the  straight  drive,  where  the 
racket  goes  out  and  up,  sliding  slightly 
across  the  ball;  the  other,  the  topped 
stroke,  where  the  racket  and  wrist  turn 
over  as  the  arm  swings  forward.  First 
practise  the  swing  alone  until  it  feels  free 
and  easy.  Then  drop  the  ball  in  front  of 
you,  but  slightly  nearer  the  net  than  in 
the  forehand  drive,  where  the  ball  is  taken 
opposite  the  body,  and  stroke  it,  making 
the  full  swing  as  in  practise  and  following 
through  in  the  direction  in  which  the  ball 
is  to  go.  In  practising  all  these  drives, 
be  sure  to  stand  far  enough  away  from 
the  ball.  The  elbow  should  be  only  slight- 
ly bent  to  get  a  full  swing — if  the  ball  is 
taken  too  close  to  the  body  the  elbow 
will  be  cramped,  and  so  hamper  the  swing. 


I        :  _  I 


Miss  Eleonora  Sears  at  finish  of  overhead  smash. 

©  International  Film  Service,  N.  Y. 


Miss  Eleanor  Goss  running  forward  to  meet  the  ball  with  a  full 
sweep  of  her  racket  in  a  forehand  drive.  All  her  weight  is 
going  into  the  stroke. 


Miss  Martha  A.  Guthrie  beginning  a  forehand  drive. 

©  International  Film  Service,  Inc.,  N.  Y, 


Mrs.  Barger-Wallach  finishing  a  straight  forehand  drive. 

"  E.  Levick,  N.  Y.,  Photo. 


Spalding's  Athletic  Library         21 


SERVICE. 

Having  practised  the  ground  strokes  till 
the  swing  feels  easy,  the  beginner  should 
go  on  the  court  with  a  number  of  balls. 
Standing  sideways  to  the  net,  behind  the 
baseline,  she  should  make  a  half  circle 
back,  with  arm  and  racket  extended,  bring- 
ing the  racket  up  over  the  head.  Here 
the  racket  is  dropped  behind  the  head  and 
swung  in  a  small  circle  from  left  to  right 
— much  as  an  Indian  club  is  swung — then 
up  and  out  in  the  follow  through.  The 
ball  is  tossed  high  in  the  air  and  struck 
as  the  racket  reaches  the  top  of  its  swing. 
Then  the  racket  follows  out  with  the  ball 
just  as  far  as  possible,  as  in  the  ground 
strokes.  The  various  cut  services  depend 
on  the  way  the  face  of  the  racket  meets 
the  ball,  how  it  cuts  around  or  over  the 
ball.  It  is  best,  however,  for  the  beginner 
to  practise  a  straight  service  until  she  is 
well  grounded  in  the  fundamentals. 
Meanwhile  she  should  try  to  place  the 
serve  not  only  in  the  correct  court  but 


22         Spalding's  Athletic  Library 

also  in  some  definite  part  of  that  court. 
A  well-placed  service  will  prove  as  ef- 
fective as  any  fancy  serve  for  ordinary 
play. 

Remember  these  points  while  practis- 
ing: get  a  full  swing,  hit  the  ball  at  the 
highest  point  possible,  and  follow  through 
as  in  the  drive,  here,  too,  getting,  the 
weight  of  the  body  into  the  stroke. 


S  pal  ding's  Athletic  Library         23 

THE  LOB  AND  THE  VOLLEY. 

With  these  shots  well  in  hand,  the  be- 
ginner has  all  she  needs  to  start  in  playing. 
But  there  are  still  the  lob  and  the  volley 
to  take  up.  If  she  is  starting  to  learn 
with  some  friend,  it  is  well  to  spend  a  lit- 
tle while  each  day  practising  lobbing,  the 
one  to  the  other. 

Because  girls  formerly  spent  most  of 
their  time  lobbing  the  ball,  now  they  have 
gone  to  the  other  extreme  and  consider  it 
beneath  their  dignity  to  lob  at  all,  that 
"lobbing  is  not  playing  the  game/'  How- 
ever, a  good  lob  at  the  right  time  is  often 
a  "lifesaver."  It  gives  the  player  time  to 
get  back  into  position  if  she  has  been 
drawn  far  out  of  court  returning  the  ball, 
and  also  it  gives  her  a  chance  to  get  her 
breath  if  she  is  being  hard  pressed.  In 
doubles,  and  against  a  net  player  in  sin- 
gles, it  is  indispensable,  as  will  be  shown 
later. 

A  lob  is  merely  a  ball  knocked  up  into 
the  air,  with  a  slight  forward  movement. 
It  should  be  high  enough  to  be  out  of  reach 


24         Spalding's  Athletic  Library 

of  the  net  player  and  deep  enough  to  force 
her  to  run  away  back  for  it.  If  it  is  too 
short — that  is,  too  close  to  the  net — the 
opponent  will  "kill"  it,  smash  it  back  so 
hard  that  it  is  almost  impossible  to  handle, 
or  else  put  it  close  to  the  side  lines  near 
the  net,  where  it  is  hard  to  reach. 

Lobbing  is  an  art  which  comes  only 
with  practise.  The  player  should  again 
and  again  hit  the  ball  firmly  upwards, 
watching  the  result  of  the  shots,  seeing 
whether  they  are  deep  enough,  etc., — gain- 
ing through  this  constant  practise  the  nec- 
essary touch. 

While  one  player  is  practising  lobbing, 
the  other  will  be  learning  how  to  return 
the  ball.  To  smash  it,  stand  sideways  to 
the  net,  left  foot  forward,  and  swing  at 
the  ball  as  it  drops,  just  as  in  serving.  It 
is  best  to  be  directly  under  the  ball  for  a 
smash.  Do  not  try  to  hit  it  too  hard  at 
first,  and  be  careful  to  keep  your  eye  on 
the  ball.  This  practise  is  splendid  train- 
ing, both  for  learning  to  keep  the  eye  on 
tKe  ball  and  Tor  timing  it  so  tHat  it  is 
struck  at  just  the  right  second. 


Very  good  illustration  of  Miss  Bjurstedt  at  finish  of  "topped" 
forehand    drive. 


American  Press  Association  Photo. 


Miss  Ballin  illustrates  incorrect  finish  of  forehand  drive.  The 
racket  has  been  carried  across  the  body  instead  of  forward,  and 
the  weight  has  been  thrown  back  on  to  the  right  foot  instead  of 
forward  with  the  stroke.  Contrast  this  with  the  picture  of  Miss 
Bjurstedt  finishing  a  forehand  drive. 

©  International  Film  Service,  Inc.,  N.  Y. 


.Miss  Molla  Bjurstedt   finishing  a   fast   backhand  drive. 

(0)  American  Press  Association. 


An  exaggerated  "topped"  backhand  drive  shown  by  Miss  Ballin. 

E.  Levick,  N.  Y.,  Photo. 


Sp  aiding' s  Athletic  Library         25 

There  remain  the  various  volley  shots  to 
consider.  Volleying  is  a  branch  of  tennis 
which  girls  are  apt  to  neglect,  but  which 
is  really  very  important  and  not  at  all  be- 
yond the  powers  of  a  girl  to  conquer.  In 
doubles,  net  play  is  indispensable,  if  half 
hour  rallies  are  to  be  avoided,  and  in  sin- 
gles it  is  a  great  aid  as  a  point  winner.  A 
girl  cannot  rush  the  net  continuously,  for 
she  has  not  the  necessary  endurance  or 
speed.  But  many  times  she  has  a  chance 
to  finish  a  point  at  the  net  or  else  is  drawn 
in  by  her  opponent  with  a  short  ball.  Here, 
with  no  time  to  get  back,  it  is  necessary 
that  she  be  able  to  handle  her  volley  shots 
properly.  It  requires  a  quick  eye,  level 
head  and  ready  muscular  response  to  make 
a  good  net  player.  Practise  at  the  net, 
therefore,  helps  one's  other  strokes, 
through  the  deftness  and  agility  acquired. 

But  the  ground  strokes  must  be  in  good 
working  order  before  a  player  can  develop 
a  net  game,  for  she  must  be  able  to  place 
the  ball  deep,  with  sufficient  speed,  and  in 
the  right  place,  in  order  to  give  herself  a 
fair  chance  iEo  run  in.  Two  beginners  can, 


26         Spalding's  Athletic  Library 

however,  get  splendid  all  around  training 
if  the  one  practises  volley  shots  while  the 
other  is  driving  from  the  back  court.  In 
volleying,  more  than  in  any  other  stroke, 
the  player  must  concentrate ;  keep  her  eye 
on  the  ball,  try  to  anticipate  her  oppo- 
nent's shot — foresee  where  it  is  going  to 
cross  the  net,  and  think  and  act  quick- 
ly but  deliberately. 

In  volleying  there  is  very  little  prelimi- 
nary swing,  the  racket  being  raised  and 
drawn  back  only  a  little,  then  forward  and 
slightly  down  across  the  face  of  the  ball. 
Never  hit  up  in  volleying.  If  the  ball  has 
fallen  below  the  level  of  the  net — a  pre- 
dicament to  be  avoided  where  possible  by 
stepping  up  and  hitting  the  ball  before  it 
drops — the  racket  is  drawn  more  sharply 
under  and  across  the  ball.  Direction  is 
given  by  drawing  the  racket  through 
in  the  desired  line.  The  wrist  should  be 
firm,  and  the  shot  made  with  precision. 
A  loosely  held  racket  and  loose  wrist  re- 
sult in  the  stop-volley-shot,  one  a  begin- 
ner should  leave  alone,  for  it  requires  a 
great  deal  of  practise  and  a  very  keen 
touch. 


$p  aiding' s  Athletic  Library         27 

Cut  may  be  used  in  any  stroke  in  tennis. 
It  consists  merely  in  hitting  across  the 
surface  of  the  ball  one  way  or  another, 
during  the  follow  through,  according  to 
the  cut  desired.  The  chop  stroke  is  one 
in  which  there  is  practically  no  prelimi- 
nary swing,  a  sharp  cut  being  given  the 
ball  at  the  moment  of  striking  it;  the  shot 
is  very  similar  to  the  ordinary  volley  shot. 
It  is  advisable,  however,  for  the  beginner 
to  leave  the  cut  game  alone  and  develop  a 
good  drive  and  service. 

Once  the  fundamentals  of  the  game  be- 
come instinctive  she  can  experiment  with 
different  shots,  and  study  the  science  of 
the  actual  play.  But  until  she  can  con- 
sistently place  the  ball  where  she  wants  it, 
with  the  desired  speed,  there  is  no  use 
learning  what  tactics  to  use. 


28        $p  aiding' s  Athletic  Library 


PLAYING  THE  GAME. 

In  the  beginning  a  player,  whether  she 
wants  to  go  into  tournament  play  later  or 
not,  should  spend  her  time  learning  to 
swing  properly  and  to  follow  through ;  to 
keep  her  eye  on  the  ball,  and  time  her 
stroke  correctly,  trying  always  to  hit  the 
ball  at  the  top  of  its  bound,  thus  saving 
time;  to  get  her  footwork  right,  that  is, 
always  be  in  such  a  position  that  the 
weight  of  the  body  can  go  into  the  stroke. 
She  should  try  in  practising  always  to  put 
the  ball  into  some  definite  part  of  the 
court,  in  order  to  acquire  "control"  of  the 
ball.  Just  hitting  it  hard,  with  very  little 
idea  of  where  it  is  going,  is  of  no  use  in 
playing.  Let  her  learn  to  place  her  ball 
well  and  get  good  length,  that  is,  keep  the 
ball  well  back  in  her  opponent's  court,  and 
she  will  soon  find  that  she  can  get  the  de- 
sired speed  when  she  wants  it. 

Most  beginners  try  to  make  a  point  out 
of  every  shot — "ace"  every  ball.  This  is, 
of  course,  impossible  and  results  in  a 


$p  aiding' s  Athletic  Library         29 

wildly  erratic  game,  of  no  interest  to  the 
opponent  and  little  advantage  to  the 
player,  for  all  idea  of  how  the  ball  should 
be  played  is  lost  in  the  desire  to  hit  it  hard. 
Rather  play  with  the  idea  of  keeping  the 
ball  in  court,  placing  it  where  it  seems 
most  difficult  for  the  other  side  to  return 
it.  By  watching  the  result  of  these  efforts 
the  beginner  will  soon  gain  a  knowledge 
of  court  positions,  where  to  put  the  ball 
and  where  she  should  be  herself  for  the  re- 
turn. This,  however,  comes  under  the 
heading  of  science  of  lawn  tennis,  on 
which  subject  a  number  of  interesting 
books  have  been  written.  It  is  better  for 
the  beginner  not  to  bother  too  much  about 
that,  but  rather  to  develop  her  strokes, 
learning  to  be  on  her  toes  every  minute, 
eye  on  the  ball,  every  bit  of  her  concen- 
trated on  the  work  in  hand.  As  less  atten- 
tion is  required  by  the  actual  making  of 
the  strokes,  more  can  be  given  to  the 
tactics  of  the  game. 

It  is  a  good  plan,  where  possible,  to 
watch  experienced  players  on  the  court, 
see  how  they  plan  their  shots,  keeping 


30        $p  aiding' s  Athletic  Library 

their  opponents  in  trouble  and  themselves 
out  of  it.  A  girl  cannot,  of  course,  gain 
much  frotn  studying  those  boys  who  rush 
the  net  on  all  occasion,  for  she  has  neither 
the  speed  nor  the  endurance  necessary  for 
this  style  of  play.  But  let  her  watch  those 
men  who  play  a  good  all  around  game,  see 
what  their  general  style  of  play  is,  what 
balls  they  go  in  on,  what  they  do  when 
they  get  to  the  net,  when  they  stay  back, 
etc.,  and  adapt  what  she  sees  to  her  own 
style  of  play.  There  is  no  reason  why  she 
should  not  develop  a  similar  all  around 
game,  enabling  her  to  make  a  good  showing 
against  the  best  of  the  players,  provided 
always  that  she  is  well  grounded  in  the 
fundamentals  of  the  game,  keeps  her  eye 
on  the  ball  and  is  alert  mentally  and  physi- 
cally all  the  time.  Even  in  doubles  there 
is  no  reason  why,  with  practise,  girls  can- 
not develop  a  good  game,  taking  the  net 
as  the  men  do  and  so  putting  an  end  to  the 
interminable  rallies  which  mostly  consti- 
tute "girls'  doubles."  The  net  position  in 
doubles  is  more  tenable  than  in  singles, 
for  the  passing  shots  are  much  fewer  and 


Speeding' s  Athletic  Library         31 

more  easily  guarded  against;  and  as  for 
the  lob,  which  seems  to  be  the  deterrent 
factor  in  most  cases,  there  is  no  reason 
why  girls  cannot  go  back  under  a  lob, 
provided  they  will  go  sideways  and  not  try 
to  run  backwards,  a  very  difficult  feat. 
There  are  a  few  teams  of  girls  who  take 
the  net  position  and  hold  it  successfully, 
thus  proving  that  there  is  no  real  reason 
why  other  teams  may  not  try  the  same 
tactics  and  so  gradually  do  away  with  the 
present  deadly  monotonous  form  of 
women's  doubles. 


32         Sp aiding' s  Athletic  Library 


GENERAL  TACTICS. 

For  the  benefit  of  those  who  have  no 
opportunity  to  watch  good  playing  and  so 
work  out  for  themselves  the  general  tac- 
tics of  the  game,  and  since  those  who  have 
that  chance  can  watch  more  intelligently 
if  they  have  some  idea  of  what  is  be- 
ing attempted,  the  following  general  sum- 
mary has  been  written.  If  you  do  not 
know  what  to  look  for,  it  is  difficult  to 
gather  much  about  the  general  tactics  of 
the  game  just  from  observation.  But  with 
more  or  less  knowledge  of  the  ground 
work  of  the  game,  the  student  can  learn 
a  great  deal  from  watching  others,  seeing 
what  they  are  trying  to  do  and  how  they 
are  doing  it. 

Singles  is  the  better  game  for  tfie  tie- 
ginner  to  start  with,  for  she  is  playing  all 
tfie  time  and  so  gets  mucfi  more  practise  in 
"strokes. "  For  the  girl  beginner  it  is  par- 
ticularly useful,  for  it  necessitates  con- 
stant attention  on  the  part  of  the  player; 
stie  must  be  on  lier  toes  and  working  every 


Miss  Bjurstedt  caught  in  a  difficult  position— a  backhand  half-volley. 

©  Underwood  &  Underwood,  N.  Y. 


Mrs.  Raymond  taking  a  backhand  shot. 

E.  Levick,  N.  Y.,  Photo. 


Miss  Eleonora  Sears  making  a  backhand  shot 
taken  on  the  run. 

E.  Levick,  N.  Y.,  Photo. 


Miss  Eleonora  Sears  at  the  net  finishing  a  backhand 
volley  shot. 

E.  Levick,  N.  Y.,  Thoto. 


Spalding's  Athletic  Library        83 

minute  of  the  time.  Thus  she  develops 
the  habits  of  concentration  and  alertness, 
which  will  later  prove  invaluable  to  her. 

"Service,"  that  is,  serving  the  first  game 
of  the  set,  is  a  great  advantage  in  the 
boy's  game,  for  if  he  has  a  good  service 
he  will  speedily  be  camped  down  near  the 
net,  thus  putting  his  opponent  on  the  de- 
fensive. First  service  is  also  an  advan- 
tage to  the  girl,  even  though  she  cannot 
rush  the  net.  For  one  thing,  it  helps  to 
get  all  her  muscles  in  play,  to  limber  her 
up;  so  much  so  that  if  one  is  not  to  serve 
the  first  game,  it  is  well  to  send  over  a  few 
service  balls  during  the  knock-up  or  prac- 
tise just  before  the  game  starts.  The 
server,  even  in  the  baseline  game,  has  a 
certain  advantage,  for  a  good  serve  can 
often  be  so  placed  that  it  will  put  the  op- 
ponent on  the  defensive,  so  that  she  has 
to  be  content  merely  with  getting  the  ball 
back  and  the  server  then  has  a  good  chance 
for  a  winning  shot. 

It  must  not  be  gathered  from  this,  How- 
ever, that  points  are  always  won  so  quick- 
ly. The  game  is  one  of  manoeuvring  until 


34         Spalding's  Athletic  Library 

one  side  or  the  other  is  drawn  into  such 
a  position  that  the  ball  is  out  of  reach  or 
very  difficult  to  return. 

This  manoeuvring  is  done  by  so  "plac- 
ing" the  ball  that  the  opponent  is  eventu- 
ally drawn  out  of  position,  or  off  her  bal- 
ance ;  that  is,  is  in  such  a  position  that  she 
cannot  make  her  stroke  properly.  It  is 
easily  seen,  therefore,  why  it  is  of  such 
importance  to  be  able  to  place  the  ball 
approximately  in  any  desired  spot.  Speed 
alone  is  of  no  use,  for  a  player  of  any  ex- 
perience can  soon  learn  to  handle  a  fast 
ball.  Accuracy  plus  speed,  of  course,  en- 
ables the  player  to  get  her  opponent  into 
difficulties  more  easily,  for  there  is  less 
time  for  court  covering,  but  a  fair  degree 
of  accuracy  must  first  be  attained;  the 
greater  the  accuracy  the  more  chance  that 
the  stroke  will  be  effective. 

This  is  often  illustrated  when  two  play- 
ers— one  steady  and  able  to  place  the  ball 
where  sfie  wants,  the  other  speedy  but 
lacking  in  control — are  pitted  against  each 
other.  THe  steady  one  will  usually  win, 
for  fier  percentage  of  "outs"  and  "nets" 


Spalding's  Athletic  Library         35 

is  much  smaller,  owing  to  the  fact  that  she 
is  seldom  out  of  position  and  is  playing  her 
shots  with  care.  In  fact,  there  is  no  use 
hitting  every  ball  hard  anyway.  Vary  the 
speed  so  that  the  opponent  will  have  to 
pay  more  attention  to  timing  her  shots, 
allowing  her  that  much  less  thought  for 
the  actual  play  of  the  point.  Rather  re- 
serve your  speed  for  shooting  a  fast  one 
into  an  opening  in  the  opponent's  court, 
which  you  have  made  by  getting  her  out 
of  position.  An  "opening"  is  that  portion 
of  the  court  that  the  opponent,  owing  to 
her  position,  cannot  protect. 

The  server  should  try  to  place  tfie  ball 
in  that  part  of  the  service  court  which 
seems  to  bother  her  opponent  most.  Put 
it  where  it  must  be  returned  by  a  back- 
hand drive  if  that  seems  to  be  the  oppo- 
nent's weak  shot,  or  vary  the  corners  into 
which  you  hit  the  ball.  It  is  well  to  try 
to  keep  tHe  ball  as  near  the  service  line 
as  possible  without  "faulting/5  for  the 
greater  depth  to  the  ball  will  give  the 
server  just  so  much  more  time  to  get  ready 
to  return  it.  If  you  are  not  going  to  rush 


36         Speeding* s  Athletic  Library 

the  net  on  service — and  it  does  not  seem 
advisable  for  girls  to  try  it,  as  it  is  too 
tiring — stay  back  of  the  baseline  to  re- 
ceive the  return  of  service.  Remember 
in  playing  that  whenever  you  are  not  well 
inside  the  service  line,  "playing  net/'  you 
should  stay  behind  the  baseline.  Other- 
wise you  will  find  the  ball  bouncing  at  your 
feet,  and  very  difficult  to  handle.  If  you 
are  behind  the  baseline,  however,  all  the 
balls  will  bounce  in  front  of  you,  and  you 
can  judge  them  more  easily.  If  you  find 
that  the  return  is  to  be  short,  you  can 
simply  step  forward  to  meet  the  ball. 
Having  returned  a  comparatively  short 
ball,  either  get  back  behind  the  baseline  or 
move  closer  to  the  net,  so  as  to  be  able 
to  volley  the  next  ball  and  finish  the  point. 
A  volleyed  ball  should  always  be  re- 
turned very  deep  and  with  a  wide  angle, 
unless  it  is  so  short  and  wide  of  angle 
that  the  opponent  cannot  reach  it.  (The 
word  "angle55  in  tennis  is  used  in  speaking 
of  the  relative  position  of  the  line  of  flight 
of  the  ball  to  the  net.)  A  short  ball  puts 
the  volleyer  at  the  mercy  of  her  oppo- 


$p  aiding' s  Athletic  Library         37 

nent,  for  the  ball  comes  back  so  quickly 
that  it  is  extremely  difficult  to  anticipate. 
Then,  too,  there  is  more  chance  of  a  pass- 
ing shot. 

To  handle  the  net  position  successfully 
the  player  must  keep  cool  and  not  be  in 
too  great  a  hurry  to  hit  the  ball,  and  when 
she  does  hit  it,  must  do  so  with  a  firm 
wrist  and  steady  forward  sweep  of  the 
racket.  She  must  not  get  upset  by  her 
errors.  Even  if  at  first  a  great  many 
balls  are  missed  there  is  no  reason  to  get 
discouraged,  for  it  is  no  more  disastrous, 
though  more  noticeable,  to  lose  a  point  at 
the  net  than  it  is  to  lose  it  from  the  back- 
court.  Watch  the  good  men  players ;  they 
miss  many  volley  shots,  too.  It  is  only 
because  a  girl  tries  so  few  that  her  mis- 
takes are  so  prominent. 

If  the  player  has  been  drawn  to  tHe  net 
on  a  short  ball,  or  has  made  her  own  shot 
deep  and  well  placed  with  the  idea  of  go- 
ing to  the  net,  she  must  be  on  the  lookout 
for  a  lob  on  the  return.  This  lob  is  a  per- 
fectly good  weapon  for  the  opponent  to 
use,  although  girls  have  a  tendency  to 


38         $p  aiding' s  Athletic  Library 

scorn  it  at  present,  owing  to  its  former 
abuse.  By  carefully  watching  her  oppo- 
nent, the  player  will  soon  be  able  to  tell 
from  the  way  she  handles  her  racket 
whether  she  is  going  to  lob  or  not.  Even 
if  she  does  try  one,  a  perfect  lob — deep 
enough  so  that  it  camnot  be  killed  and  low 
enough  that  the  player  cannot  run  back 
and  return  it — is  very  difficult  to  make. 
It  requires  much  practise  and  a  very  keen 
touch.  If  two  or  three  short  lobs  are  suc- 
cessfully smashed,  the  opponent  is  apt  to 
fight  shy  of  that  particular  form  of  de- 
fense and  will  go  back  to  the  passing  shots 
to  try  to  win  the  point. 

From  the  other  point  of  view,  if  the 
first  few  lobs  are  too  short  or  too  high,  the 
player  should  try  several  more,  endeavor- 
ing to  correct  her  error,  so  that  in  an  emer- 
gency she  will  not  be  afraid  to  use  the  lob. 
Furthermore,  not  all  short  lobs  are  suc- 
cessfully smashed.  The  opposing  side 
may  miss  it  entirely  or  may  return  it  in 
such  a  way  that  it  can  be  easily  handled — 
either  not  severe  enough  or  not  well  placed. 
Several  unsuccessful  smashes  will  go  far 


Spalding's  Athletic  Library         39 

toward  upsetting  the  player,  for  in  no 
stroke  is  self-confidence  more  needed  and 
sooner  lost  than  in  smashing. 

This  is  a  department  of  the  game  tKat 
girls  have  very  much  neglected,  but,  as 
has  already  been  shown,  it  is  one  that  is 
very  important,  not  only  for  actual  use  in 
the  game  but  as  training  for  both  eye  and 
judgment.  The  smash  must  be  hit  at  ex- 
actly the  right  second,  pretty  well  in  the 
center  of  the  racket.  There  is  no  reason 
why  girls  cannot  learn  to  smash.  They 
have  fought  shy  of  the  stroke  because 
they  have  not  been  willing  to  devote  the 
necessary  time  to  practising  it,  and  in  part 
because  a  bad  smash  is  so  conspicuous  an 
error.  A  good  smash  is  a  pretty  sure 
point  winner  and  is  a  constant  menace  to 
the  would-be  lobber ;  so  is  well  worth  culti- 
vating. Indeed,  without  good  overhead 
work  it  is  rather  useless  to  attempt  net 
play,  for  the  opponent  has  too  obvious  and 
sure  a  method  of  defense  in  her  lob;  and 
the  player  who  deprives  herself  of  this 
form  of  the  game  loses  much  of  the  thrill 
of  the  game.  With  the  inveterate  baseline 


40         Spalding's  Athletic  Library 

player  the  game  resolves  itself  into  a  pa- 
tient striving  for  openings — and  so  loses 
much  of  its  snap  and  vigor. 

A  girl  must,  however,  as  a  rule,  play 
the  major  part  of  her  singles  game  from 
the  back  court,  going  to  the  net  only  when 
drawn  in  or  when  she  has  a  fair  chance  to 
finish  the  rally.  Of  course,  there  are  ex- 
ceptions to  this,  as  to  every  rule.  Some 
good  players,  for  instance,  play  the  net 
game  consistently.  But  most  girls  will 
find  that  they  cannot  last  through  a  three- 
set  match  with  this  style  of  play,  it  is  too 
tiring.  But  they  should  be  able  to  vary 
their  backcourt  game  by  going  to  the  net 
occasionally.  In  order  that  they  may 
handle  the  ball  properly  when  they  have 
the  chance,  a  good  deal  of  attention  should 
be  given  to  the  volley  and  the  smash  while 
practising. 

When  in  the  back  court  try  to  return 
the  ball  where  your  opponent  cannot  eas- 
ily reach  it — keep  it  near  the  sidelines  in- 
stead of  returning  it  down  the  center  of 
the  court,  a  habit  formed  through  fear  of 
putting  the  ball  out.  Make  your  opponent 


Miss  Marion  Zinderstein  at  the  finish  of  a  chop  volley  shot. 
Note  her  position,  as  shown  by  the  side  line  behind  her,  relative 
to  the  net;  also  the  firmness  of  her  grip. 


Mrs.  Edward  Raymond  in  an  unusual  illustration  of  the 
half-volley  shot. 

©  American  Press  Association. 


I 


Miss  Eleonora  Sears  about  to  chop  the  ball.     Note  position  of 
the  arm  and  racket. 

©  International  Film  Service,  Inc.,  N.  Y. 


Miss  Edith  B.  Handy  finishing  a  cut  service. 

E.  Levick,  N.  Y.,  Photo. 


$p  aiding' s  Athletic  Library         41 

run,  that  she  may  tire  the  more  quickly 
and  may  often  be  off  her  balance  when  she 
has  to  hit  the  ball.  But  do  not  be  afraid 
to  run  for  the  ball ;  be  on  your  toes  every 
minute  of  play  and  do  not  be  afraid  of 
a  long  rally.  Many  players  feel  that  they 
are  not  playing  well  unless  they  finish  the 
point  quickly.  This  leads  to  a  wild  hit- 
ting of  the  ball  in  an  effort  to  smash  it 
through  the  opponent's  defense,  and  the 
percentage  of  errors  is  very  high.  Keep 
the  ball  in  play,  trying  to  force  the  other 
player  "out  of  position" — either  off  bal- 
ance by  sending  the  ball  where  she  does 
not  expect  it  or  by  forcing  her  far  out 
of  court  on  one  side  or  the  other,  then 
sending  the  ball  into  tlie  unprotected 
space.  Of  course,  a  certain  amount  of 
speed  is  always  necessary,  for  on  a  slow 
ball,  no  matter  how  well  placed,  the  oppo- 
nent can  usually  get  comfortably  into  po- 
sition for  the  return.  The  point  to  bear 
in  mind  is  that  speed  without  placement 
will  seldom  win  a  point. 

All  of  the  foregoing  is  particularly  true 
in  doubles.    If  a  player  is  not  out  of  £osi- 


42         Sp aiding' s  Athletic  Library 

tion,  she  should  be  able  to  handle  almost 
any  swift  ball  In  doubles  it  is  very  diffi- 
cult to  get  the  opponents  out  @f  position 
and  the  possible  openings  are  much  fewer 
and  harder  to  make.  That  is  why  when 
four  girls  are  playing,  all  in  the  backcourt, 
the  rallies  are  so  long  and  monotonous. 
Each  side  is  trying  to  out-manoeuvre  the 
other  and  make  a  hole  through  which  to 
shoot  the  ball.  But  with  two  persons  on 
guard,  these  holes  are  not  easily  made  and 
the  rally  is  more  apt  to  end  in  one  side 
finally  either  netting  the  ball  or  putting  it 
"out."  Points  are  seldom  won.  This  is 
good  training  in  accuracy  and  steadiness, 
but  the  ftm  and  excitement  is  mostly  mi- 
nus. 

If,  however,  net  play  is  introduced  into 
the  game,  the  story  is  quite  different. 
More  and  more  this  fact  is  being  recog- 
nized and  girls  are  devoting  more  atten- 
tion to  their  volleying.  At  present  many 
teams  are  composed  of  one  net  and  one 
backcourt  player.  Against  two  backcourt 
players  this  is  a  very  effective  combina- 
tion. However,  it  forces  the  backcourt 


$p  aiding' s  Athletic  Library         43 

player  to  carry  most  of  the  burden.  The 
girl  at  the  net  is  too  apt  to  take  only  those 
balls  which  are  right  on  her  racket.  In- 
stead of  which  she  should  try  to  return 
everything  within  possible  reach,  so  as  to 
save  her  partner  as  much  as  she  can. 
These  returns  should  be,  as  in  singles, 
either  very  deep  and  wide,  or  else  close  to 
the  net  and  very  much  crosscourt.  This 
latter  is  the  more  effective  in  doubles,  for 
the  deep  shot  is  too  easily  returned  when 
there  are  two  players  guarding  the  back 
territory.  The  baseline  player  must  al- 
ways keep  the  ball  deep  (near  the  base- 
line), for  otherwise  she  is  putting  her  part- 
ner at  the  mercy  of  the  other  side.  She 
must  be  ready  to  cover  practically  all  the 
back  court.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  she 
should  not  back  her  partner  too  closely 
on  the  latter's  shots.  Many  girls  come 
right  in  behind  their  net  partner,  as  if  sure 
she  is  going  to  miss,  thus  almost  making 
her  miss  the  point  solely  through  lack  of 
self-confidence.  The  baseline  player  must 
guard  her  own  side,  but  she  must  be  on  the 
constant  lookout  for  a  lob  over  her  part- 


44        Sp  aiding' s  Athletic  Library 

tier's  head  or  for  a  wide  crosscourt  behind 
her  partner.  Then  she  must  cross  over 
to  return  the  ball,  her  partner  likewise 
crossing  to  cover  the  unprotected  court 
The  net  player,  however,  must  take  as 
many  chances,  try  for  as  much  as  pos- 
sible, in  order  to  assist  her  partner — not 
be  content,  as  many  girls  are,  to  take  only 
the  inevitable,  sure  shots. 

This  combination  is  productive  of  much 
more  interesting  and  much  faster  tennis 
than  is  the  baseline  combination.  But  it 
is  less  effective  than  the  baseline  combina- 
tion when  matched  against  a  team  that 
takes  the  net.  Then  the  backcpurt  player 
has  no  choice  but  to  lob,  and  if  that  be 
short,  the  net  player  is  practically  helpless. 
She  cannot  hope  to  return  the  expected 
smash,  the  ball  comes  too  quickly  for  her 
to  anticipate  it  (guess  just  where  it  is  com- 
ing and  be  ready  for  it)  and  with  too  much 
downward  force  for  her  to  handle  it,  even 
if  she  could  get  her  racket  on  it.  She  is 
also  at  a  disadvantage,  for  she  stands  a 
fair  chance  of  being  hit  by  a  fast  drive. 
It  is  very  hard  to  drive  successfully 


Sp Gilding's  Athletic  Library         45 

through  the  opponents,  for  with  two  per- 
sons covering  the  net  the  openings  are 
very  small,  down  the  center  being  about 
the  best  chance,  for  then  there  is  apt  to 
be  confusion  as  to  who  should  take  the 
ball,  whereas  the  openings  for  the  net 
players  are  proportionately  large.  They 
have  an  easy  chance  to  volley  the  ball  deep 
and  very  wide,  behind  the  opposite  net 
player,  or  else  very  short  and  wide,  to  the 
other  side  of  the  court. 

The  disadvantage  of  the  all-net  game 
comes  from  the  lobbed  ball.  Girls  are  very 
much  afraid  of  "being  lobbed."  But,  by 
carefully  watching  the  opponent's  racket, 
a  lob  can  usually  be  foreseen,  and  the  play- 
ers ready  to  go  back  under  it.  This  an- 
ticipation is  the  result  only  of  much  prac- 
tise and  of  keen  concentration  on  the 
game.  Moreover,  even  if  a  few  lobs  are 
counted  against  the  net  players,  of  what 
matter  so  long  as  the  percentage  of  points 
thus  lost  is  not  too  great?  The  advan- 
tages gained  by  taking  the  net  will  usually 
more  than  offset  this  disadvantage.  If, 
however,  the  opposing  team  are  lobbing 


46         Spalding's  Athletic  Library 

unusually  deep  and  accurately,  it  is  well 
for  the  net  team  to  change  their  tactics 
and  stay  back  for  a  while.  But  do  not 
be  afraid  of  a  possible  lob,  and  stay  back 
after  the  first  ball  missed.  The  chances 
of  a  lob  being  either  out  or  else  so  short 
that  it  is  an  easy  kill  are  in  your  favor; 
give  yourself  a  fair  trial  before  staying 
back. 

It  is  easier  for  girls  to  develop  a  net 
doubles  game  than  a  singles  game,  for 
doubles  is  naturally  a  much  less  tiring 
game.  There  is  less  court  to  cover,  the 
service  comes  less  frequently,  and  the  odds 
are  more  in  the  net  player's  favor.  The 
best  women  players  are  more  and  more  in- 
clining towards  the  net  position  in  dou- 
bles, and  by  so  doing  are  broadening  and 
developing  their  .whole  game,  improving 
the  quality  of  their  singles  as  well, 
tHrougK  their  increased  familiarity  witK 
net  play. 


S  pal  ding's  Athletic  Library         47 

MIXED  DOUBLES. 
Opinion  as  to  court  position  in  mixed 
doubles  seems  to  be  divided  in  the  minds 
of  the  men  who  play  it,  some  men  prefer- 
ring the  girl  to  take  the  net  and  stay  there 
under  all  circumstances,  letting  the  man 
do  his  share  of  the  net  play,  and  all  the 
backcourt  work.  Others  insist  that  as  a 
girl  is  naturally  a  baseline  player,  her  job 
should  be  to  guard  the  back  court  while 
the  man  plays  at  the  net.  This  latter 
seems  the  more  logical  of  the  two  plans, 
for  it  gives  both  players  their  natural  po- 
sitions. Furthermore,  a  man  is  usually 
much  more  effective  in  his  volleying  than 
the  girl,  no  matter  how  good  she  may  be. 
But  as  girls  develop  their  net  play,  de- 
voting more  time  to  their  volleying  and 
their  overhead  work,  both  in  singles  and 
in  doubles,  they  will  quickly  learn  to  do 
their  fair  share  of  work  in  mixed  doubles 
and  not  merely  occupy  a  small  portion  of 
the  court.  They  will  play  it  as  a  regular 
doubles  game,  with  both  partners  up  or 
back  together,  making  it  much  more  inter- 
esting for  all  concerned. 


48         Spalding's  Athletic* Library        r* 

•TOURNAMENT  PLAY,    • 

Tournament  play  does  not  appeal  to 
everyone.  But  those  who  enter  into  it  find 
that  it  improves  their  game  a  great  deal. 
They  become  much  more  keen,  they  have 
to  develop  greater  concentrative  powers, 
they  become  used  to  dealing  with  many 
different  styles  of  play,  they  learn  "never 
to  say  die/'  for  no  match  is  won  or  lost 
until  the  last  point  is  played.  This,  how- 
ever, is  an  advanced  form  of  play  that  is 
well  covered  by  a  number  of  interesting 
books  and  that  has  no  place  in  a  "book  for 
beginners." 

It  often  has  been  said  of  girls  that  they 
are  not  "good  sports."  This  was  no  doubt 
more  or  less  true  in  years  past.  But  as 
girls  go  more  and  more  to  boarding 
school  and  college,  play  on  teams  and  gen- 
erally have  to  consider  themselves  a  small 
part  of  a  big  whole,  they  are  learning  how 
to  behave  in  the  field  of  sports,  to  take 
what  comes  with  a  smile.  Remember,  be- 
fore all  things,  no  matter  how  trying  the 
circumstances,  always  be  a  good  sport. 


ACCEPT  NO 
SUBSTITUTE 


THE  SPALDING  ( 


(TRADE-MARK 


SPALDING  CHAMPIONSHIP  TENNIS  RACKETS 


.••••••••••••••iv  ' 

•••••••••••••••ii 

jliililililllllllll 
••••••••••••••him. 

jiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 
••••••••••••••••••••i 

••••••••••BIIIIIHIIII 

••••riirilii  *•••••••• 

•IIIIIII1IHI1IIIIIIII 
••••••••••••••••••II* 

••••••••••••••••••ail 

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir 
liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiRiii 
••••••••••••••mi' 

fjiiiiiiiiitiiiiiir 
" 


TllllllllllllllE 
llllllllllRlllir 


NO.HA 


The  National  Men's  Championship 
was  won  with  a  Spalding  Hackett 
&  Alexander  Racket,  (No.  HA  as 
listed  below)  used  by  and  named 
for  these  famous  players. 

The  National  Women's  Cham- 
pionship was  won  with  a  Molla 
Bjurstedt  Racket,  (No.  MB  as  listed 
below)  made  by  us  under  special 
direction  of  this  great  Norwegian 
player. 

SPALDING 

HACKETT  &  ALEXANDER 
MODEL  HA 

No.  HA.  Has  depressed  throat 
piece,  rawhide  reinforcements  in- 
side and  out  at  bend,  supple* 
merited  with  gut  throat  winding. 
It  has  a  full  bow  frame,  no  bevel. 
The  handles  are  four-sided,  all 
cedar,  either  5,  5/£.-or  5^  inches 
in  circumference.  The  stringing 
is  of  best  quality  Spalding  Auto- 
graph gut,  by  our  most  expert 
stringers.  Without  cover. 
Each, 


No.  MB 


"MOLLA  BJURSTEDT"  AUTOGRAPH  MODEL  MB 

No.  MB.  Built  with  depressed  throat  piece,  gut  throat  winding.  Full  bow  frame,  no  bevel.  The 
handle  is  of  cedar,  four-sided,  with  small  size  grip.  Weight  13%  ounces  and  slightly  over  or 
under.  It  is  made  specially  for  women  and  is  identically  the  same  model  as  used  for  the  past 
two  seasons  by  this  famous  woman  champion,  Miss  Molla  Bjurstedt.  Best  Spalding  Autograph 
gut  only  is  used,  strung  as  are  other  Spalding  highest  grade  rackets,  by  our  most  expert  stringers. 
Without  cover Each. 

In  the  complete  Spalding  tennis  line  is  a  racket  to  suit  the  requirements 
of  every  kind  of  player. 


PROMPT  ATTENTION  GIVEN  TO  I 

ANY  COMMUNICATIONS 

ADDRESSED  TO  US. 


A.  G.  SPALDING  &  BROS. 

STORES  IN  ALL  LARGE  CITIES 


I  FOR  COMPUTE  LIST  OF  STORES 

SEE  INSIDE  FRONT  COVER 

OF  THIS  BOO! 


II 


sSSUHESPALDINGI 


QUALITY 


SPALDING  "TRADE  MARK"  TENNIS  RACKETS 


i  •  •  ••mi  ••••••  ii\ 

pi  ••••ill  mil      J!k 

••» 


•  ••Illlllllllll 


\ttiiiiiiiiiiiii       • 


No.XP 


No.  6 

No.  6.  The  Nassau.  Black  depressed  throat  with  oak 
reinforcement.  Frame  of  white  ash,  highly  polished,  with 
combed  Spanish  cedar  handle,  leather  capped.  Stringing 
is  of  good  quality  gut.  (Reg.  U.  S.  Pat.  Off.) .  Ea., 

No.  7.  The  Oval.  Oval  shape,  with  extra  stringing  in 
central  portion ;  good  quality  gut.  Gut  wound  shoulders. 
(Patented  Jan.  3,  1905) Each, 

No.  XF.  Fairfield.  Black  throat.  Frame  of  selected  ash. 
Wound  shoulders.  Good  quality  gut  strung.  Eacht 

No.  4X.  Ace.  Depressed  throat.  Frame  of  selected  ash. 
Gut  strung  double  in  central  portion.  .  .  Each, 


No.4X 


I! 


PROMPT  ATTENTION  GIVEN  TOl 

ANY  COMMUNICATIONS 

ADDRESSED  TO  US 


A.  G.  SPALDING  &  BROS. 

STORES  IN  ALL  LARGE  CITIES 


mran 

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PRICES  SUBJECT  TO  CHANGE  WITHOUT  NOTICE.    For 


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OVERDUE, 


MAR  23  1947 

MAR  24  1947 

wiL  23  1947 

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UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


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